Pouch-holding clamp for mail cranes



April 19 1927.

C. A. MOHNKERN POUCH HOLDING CLAMP FOR MAIL CRANES Original il pril 10.1925 Patented Apr. 19, 1927.

ATET FEQE.

CARL A. MOHNKERN, 0F CURTIS, ARKANSAS.

POUCH-HOLDING CLAMP FOR MAIL CRANES.

Original application filed April 10, 1925, Serial No. 22,086. Divided.and this application filed September My invention relates to mail cranesand particularly to the pouch. clamps such as are used on the ends ofthe crane arms. More specifically, this application is a division of myco-pending application, Serial No. 22,086 filed April 10, 1925.

The object of my invention is to provide in a mail crane, improved pouchclamps which shall be strong, efficient and durable, and which will notinjure the pouches by tearing the supporting rings therefrom. A furtherobject of my invention is to provide a device as mentioned, which willnormally remain in alinement with the crane arm but which will readilyswing in the proper direction to readily release the pouch when thelatter is being removed therefrom. .A further object of my invention isto provide a device as mentioned which shall be of simple construction.Other objects will appear hereinafter.

With these objects in View my invention consists generally in a cranearm having its end vertically slotted, a pouch supporting clampcomprising a horizontal finger having a Vertical pivot pin arrangedwithin the slot, means for holding the pivot pin within the slot and aspring-pressed clamp finger carried by the first-mentioned linger toengage and hold the pouch. My invention further consists in a device asmentioned further characterized by means yieldingly holding the fingerin alinement with the arm. My invention further consists in variousdetails of construction and arrangements of parts, all as will befullydescribed hereinafter and particularly pointed out in the claims.

My invention will be more readily understood by reference to theaccompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in-whichFig. 1 is an elevation of the upper portion of a mail crane illustratingmy improved pouch clamps applied to the crane arms, and

Fig. 2 is a detail view illustrating one of the spring clamps.

Referring now to the drawings, 1 indicates the standard of a mail craneand 2 and 3 the pouch supporting arm thereon.

Serial No. 134,911.

Arranged upon the end of each arm is a clamp, comprising my invention.

Each clamp comprises a finger at pivotally connected to the end of thecrane arm to swing on a Vertical axis and a spring pressed clampingfinger 5. The finger 4: is provided at its inner end with a verticallydisposed portion 6 constituting a pivot pin. This is arranged in slots 7cut in from the ends of the tubular arms and held in place by a screwcap 8. A spring 9 connected to the pin 6, and having its opposite endsbearing against the inner face of the crane arm normally maintains thefinger 4 in alinement with the crane arm, but permits the clamp toreadily swing laterally in either direction under slight force so thatit exerts practically but little resistance to the removal of the bagand therefore is conducive to long wear of the latter.

I claim:

1. In a mail crane, a pouch supporting arm having its end verticallyslotted, a pouch supporting clamp comprising a horizontal finger havinga vertical pivot pin arranged within said slot, a cap on the end of saidarm holding said pivot pin within said slotted end, and a spring-pressedclamp finger carried by said first-mentioned finger, substantially asdescribed.

2. In a mail crane, a tubular, pouch supporting arm having its upper andlower walls slotted at the end, a pouch supporting clamp comprisingahorizontal finger having a vertical pivot pin arrangedv within saidslots, a cap threaded on the end of said arm closing the ends of saidslois and holding said pivot pin therein, and a spring pressed clampfinger carried by the first said finger, and a spring within saidtubular arm, connected with said pivot pin for yieldingly holding saidclamp against movement in either direction and for returning it to aposition in alinement with the arm substantally as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

CARL A. MOHNKERU.

